Stop It Now! Reporting Tree
The Stop It Now! Helpline attempts to honor the confidentiality and anonymity offered to all its users whenever possible. However, if a child/youth contacting the helpline discloses their own present sexual abuse or is a person disclosing that they are sexually abusing a child, AND there is identifying information, then the Helpline will take appropriate steps to involve protective authorities.
Any case meeting reporting criterial must be reviewed with Director.
Table of Contents
Case Classification:
Youth:
Self-Disclosure of Current Abuse - Physical or Sexual
Report when following identifying information provided:
- Youth's full name
- Location of youth – city or county and state
- Description of abusive situation
- Preferred: address, age, school
- Preferred: Name/location of person abusing
Review/consult:
- Abuse is described as happening in the past with no current risk
- Youth reports current therapist or other mandated reporter is aware - has this person reported?
Bystander:
Disclosure of Child Abuse – Physical or Sexual
With or without identifying information, information is provided on how and where bystander can make own report. Typically Now! does not make a 3rd party report because it will not be as effective.
Now! will review the following for exceptions:
- Bystander is asking for help due to disability, i.e. hearing/speech impairment, no phone, or safety issue for them to make the report
- Written, precise details about abusive situation
- Community safety threat, i.e. bomb threat
- Others as warranted
Bystander must provide self-identifying information if report is to be made.
Individual at Risk of or Abusing a Child:
Self-Disclosure of Own Abusive Behaviors – Physical or Sexual
Person either: (1) has, (2) is currently, or (3) is planning on abusing (includes detailed plan to abuse).
For adults abusing, offer is made to conference them into a call to local authorities to turn themselves in if appropriate.
Report when following identifying information provided:
- First and last name of a minor who has been harmed/is being harmed or is the planned victim
- First and last name of an adult or youth who has harmed, harming, or planning on harming a minor
- Location of abuse or planned abuse – city or county and state
- Description of criminal behaviors that harm a minor
- When abuse took place
- Preferred:
- Age of youth
- Where abuse took place
- Youth’s guardians
- Abusing adult’s contact info/location
Note: In individual cases where Helpline user is a repeat user, disclosing that they are abusing children, but without disclosing identifying information, the case will be reviewed to determine whether authorities should be contacted, and whether retrieving their phone number, email addresses, or IP addresses is appropriate. Typically this decision-making process will occur post-2nd or 3rd call, and the next time this user contacts the Helpline, they will be informed that confidentiality is offered to Helpline contacts who are interested in taking action in preventing child abuse. As there has been a disclosure of recent abuse and further threat of abuse, and no identified steps to getting help to stop abusing, the Helpline staff will make a report to the appropriate authorities and will participate in activities to help identify anyone involved in the active abuse of a child.
Regarding a disclosure (with identifying information) of viewing child sexual abuse material: Generally these are not to be considered reportable. It is not assumed that every US state requires reporting an individual for viewing CSAM (unlike mandated reporting for the production, distribution, purchasing, and possession of such).
Reporting Steps Based on Communication Venue:
Phone Call
Can Include Answering Machine Message – Meeting Disclosure and Identifying Info Criteria
Steps:
- Helpline contact is informed that confidentiality cannot be offered to them as there has been a disclosure of abuse with identifying information, and that a report may be made when call ends.
- Contact is offered resources for treatment and to make their own report. Safety needs are reviewed, offering resources as appropriate.
- Helpline staff consults with Director.
- Helpline staff contact local reporting resource, document in iCarol, tick off “reported” variable.
- All steps are documented and filed.
Online Communication
Email, Chat, Social Media Postings – Meeting Disclosure and Identifying Criteria
Steps:
- Helpline contact is informed that confidentiality cannot be offered to them as there has been a disclosure of abuse with identifying information and that a report will be made within the next 2 hours. Contact is invited to contact Helpline with questions of concerns. Standard Helpline response with resources is also included.
- Helpline staff consults with Director.
- Suggested language to self-identified person who has abused: “It is a very responsible and courageous that you’ve reached out. Your email included identifying information and was a disclosure of abuse. Stop It Now! is committed to offering adults a confidential service to talk about their concerns related to child sexual abuse, however if identifying information is offered of children who have been abused and of the adult abusing them, Stop It Now! may be required to file a report. In this case, we have decided to file a report of child sexual abuse with your state’s child protection authorities.”
- Helpline staff contact local reporting resource, document in iCarol and tick off “reported” variable as well as move any email messages into “reported” folder. If actual written communication describing abuse is requested by authorities, communication should be formatted in PDF and forwarded as requested.
- All steps are documented and filed.